Sunak says airfield on standby and planes booked for Rwanda deportations

The prime minister has said the first deportation flights to Rwanda will leave "in 10 to 12 weeks", hours before MPs are due to vote on his emergency legislation.

Rishi Sunak said the government has "an airfield on standby and booked commercial charter planes" to get the first flights off to the east African nation.

"No ifs, not buts, these flights are going to Rwanda," the prime minister said.

Mr Sunak was speaking at a press conference in Downing Street just hours before MPs and peers vote on his emergency legislation - possibly well into the evening.

The controversial bill will return to the Commons after several rounds of parliamentary ping-pong, which has seen the Lords express their opposition to the proposals through a series of amendments the prime minister does not accept.

Mr Sunak vowed last week that today would be the day the bill finally got through parliament, telling reporters there would be "no more prevarication, no more delay".

He repeated that assertion today, telling journalists: "Enough is enough. No more prevarication, no more delay.

"Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes."

Mr Sunak described his plan - which aims to send asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via irregular means to Rwanda for processing - as an "indispensable deterrent " that removes the incentive for people to come to the UK illegally.

"Starting from the moment that the bill passes, we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight," he said.

"We have prepared for this moment."

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.